Trailkeepers Service Group

Group Captain: Fairlie Bagley

Those of you who ride the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail know that it needs help. Sometimes there are too many leaves and branches on the Trail. In places there are bumps caused by tree roots. Obviously, the Florida Park Service needs help in keeping the Trail clear and clean, and in repairing aging pavement. To this end, a small group of us have banded together as the TRAILKEEPERS, to help the Trail.

Volunteer help is needed particularly now because the State economy and budget have restricted the operations of the Park Service.  They just don't have enough Rangers or operating funds to get all the jobs done.  We help as substitute Rangers to drive the big leaf blower, clear downed or low-hanging limbs, organize equipment for the inmate crew to flatten those pesky root bumps, drive the tractor to kill the roots themselves, and seal the cracks left by the roots.  Sometimes it's hot and boring work, but sometimes it is fun, but your investment of time and effort does provide a return of satisfaction when we see the Trail looking better and safer for cyclists.  Without our help, the Trail will be a less pleasant place, and perhaps less safe to ride.

We do the blowing job on Fridays, so you will need to be free on at least some weekdays (thus favoring retirees).  Other weekdays may be involved.  We try to keep off the Trail on weekends (except for our own rides) because some of the equipment we use can cause congestion.  Once a year (Autumn this year?) we kill the roots using a John Deere farm tractor with a single-prong root rake.

If you are interested, please sign up, or call me (Fairlie Bagley) at (352)505-6379.  There are some pesky bureaucratic steps to get over, including signing on as a Volunteer with the Park Service, but that does get you some workman's compensation insurance coverage for on-the-job injuries.  And you are supposed to wear a "Volunteer" name tag and T-shirt (provided) while on the job.  There is always Mickey Mouse with any government activity, but you knew that!  Oh, yeah, you need a drivers license and to be reasonably able-bodied.

Group membership is open to all Gainesville Cycling Club members. To join, sign in to the Members Area, go to the Ride page, and click on "Join A Group" just under the "Group Membership" heading.